Rachel has been patiently awaiting her blog post! Thanks for being so patient. =)
This was my last wedding for 2009. I got to end my year in Evanston, one of my favorite places!

This was waiting for me when I arrived. Mark and Rachel have 5 kids between the two of them and they were all getting ready!

And they were super excited for the big day!!!


Check out that hat…



A little help from dad…

One girl and four boys. She is in for some torture!

The man of the house just cannot be bothered with the wild ones. =)

And they WERE wild!! I kind of begged them to do this. I am a bad influence!

I headed outside with them to the swing set…


This little guy was modeling his new look…

and then he was attacked by the others!

So cute!

Mark headed to the ceremony with all of the boys so that Rachel could start getting ready…


Her mother…

And Isabelle slipped on Rachel’s wedding shoes and watched her mom finish getting ready…

And then we were off…

They had their wedding and reception at the very warm and quaint, Va Pensiero in Evanston.

The guests started arriving right away…

Wow. Isabelle looks beyond thrilled! Ha.

Rachel’s grandma and grandpa…

Rachel and Gabriel…

Mark’s mother and her friend…

And some super posing!

The ketubah signing…





The groom was all smiles!

And then the ceremony…






That’s a wrap!

Some post-ceremony hugs!

And then cocktail hour…




Rachel’s brother. Hmm, not sure what is going on here! =)

Her grandpa was hilarious!

Mark borrows Gabe’s hat for a bit…

A quick dinner blessing…

And then Rachel gives a very touching speech…


And finally, a little message from Isabelle…

Thanks for letting me be a part of a very intimate affair!